World Cup 2026 Last-16 Review: Who Impressed and Who Scraped Through?
The World Cup 2026 last 16 is done and dusted, and The Guardian has taken stock of how each remaining side performed before the quarter-finals get under way. If you want to follow the action and keep tabs on how the bracket is shaping up, our World Cup 2026 hub and live standings have you covered.
France produced a notably different display against Paraguay, ditching any suggestion of flair-over-substance by matching their opponents’ physicality head-on. Rayan Cherki summed up the mood bluntly, warning rivals of exactly what to expect if they try to bully Les Bleus. The question for every remaining team is how they stop a side that appears to relish a battle as much as a technical contest.
Spain quietly continued building a tournament-winning case. Five games without conceding is a serious statement, and Luis de la Fuente’s side comfortably kept Portugal at arm’s length. The decisive moment came from the bench — Mikel Merino combined with two other substitutes to land the winning blow. De la Fuente was keen to stress that squad depth, not just his starting XI, is driving their campaign.
Argentina had a genuinely alarming moment when Messi squandered a penalty and Egypt looked poised for a famous upset. What followed was remarkable: three goals inside 13 minutes rescued the holders. Coach Lionel Scaloni, visibly emotional at full time, described a group that